LRQA Business Assurance
In a rapidly changing world, business cannot stand still. There is an ever increasing need to evolve, to move from prescriptive instructions intended to satisfy narrow compliance standards, to systems designed to ensure delivery against organisational commitments. This requires broader, deeper and more intelligent systems with flexibility in their application.
The future of management systems
Organisations of all sizes need to be able to manage risk, the uncertainty of global supply chains and legislative demands. In effect, management systems need to be central to the way modern, successful organisations manage themselves. The challenge facing management systems professionals is designing systems that meet these needs. And, in order to do so, they must become bi-lingual - able to speak the language of business and systems.
Management systems are becoming inextricably linked to assuring the future of the business. As a result, we must start assessing such systems in a different way. They need to be viewed through the prism of an organisation's stakeholders and top management for what they are - business assurance systems.
These new business challenges have led us to develop a different approach to our services and the way in which we carry out our assessments with clients. We have named this 'LRQA Business Assurance'. LRQA Business Assurance is based on the idea that building trust stretches far beyond the issuing of certificates.
What this means for you, our clients
LRQA Business Assurance helps you manage your systems and risks to improve and protect the current and future performance of your organisation.
LRQA Business Assurance is built on three pillars
Themed surveillance
In our initial client visit, we work with you to determine your key themes and targets in terms of compliance and improvement. Our assessments then ensure conformance while providing detailed and objective feedback on performance within the identified areas. At LRQA, we call this type of visit ‘themed surveillance'.
Continual improvement
Too often, organisations neglect the opportunities their management system can provide for improving performance. Our reports address the key areas of risk you face and identify areas for continual improvement. They also consider how well your management system will continue to meet the needs and expectations of all those with a vested interest in your business, highlighting areas for management attention.
Risk-based methodology
While some risks are necessary for opportunity and improvement, others must be managed or eliminated. Our approach helps you to perfect this balance by identifying your critical market, regulatory and technological risks. We point out where you might strengthen your system by improving your management of risk.
The aim of LRQA Business Assurance is to help ensure our clients:
have the capability to deliver on the promises you make, enhancing your reputation, creating confidence in your capabilities, helping you to substantiate claims and differentiate yourself
see the tangible benefits of the value of management systems, linking these benefits to financial performance or improvements in effectiveness and efficiency
develop your capability to manage a range of non-financial risks
feel confident that management systems are meeting stakeholder needs and that you are getting a return on your investment.
In short, Business Assurance helps you manage your systems and risks to improve and protect the current and future performance of your organisation.
Risk based approach
Further, LRQA’s Business Assurance risk based approach allows us to tailor the assessment according to the maturity of the clients systems
Strategic goals
Leading edge companies now expect management systems to contribute significantly to their capability to achieve strategic goals. They understand that management systems are fundamental to maintaining organisational capability whilst undergoing change. To gain the greatest benefits from their systems, progressive organisations recognise the advantage of making themselves more transparent and sharing information about their real business issues.
Management systems have matured to meet the expectations of business. Now certification has grown up to match the evolution - and it is called Business Assurance.
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